A special event hosted online by KTC Hay River: the Medicine Buddha Intensive Practice will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 PM Central Time on October 24th, 2020, and on November 14th, and other dates as specified on the calendar. Also known as the “Medicine Buddha Half-Day Virtual Retreat”, this practice will be led by Lama Yeshe and held online using Zoom.
“This program gives us the opportunity to deepen our understanding of the Medicine Buddha practice. It will include recitations of the puja in both Tibetan and English. The puja is done to alleviate illness for oneself and others. There will be instructions on parts of the practice and the mudras.” — Lama Tsultrim Yeshe
Before the event, you’ll want to make sure you’ve downloaded all three of the puja (group practice) and prayer texts as follows:
1) Main text: The Medicine Buddha Practice (free download). If you prefer the pecha format, it is called “A Stream of Lapis Lazuli” and is available for purchase at the KTD bookstore.
2) Auxiliary texts: The Names of the Seven Auxiliary Medicine Buddhas (which we chant three times before doing the mantra recitation in the main Medicine Buddha text); and, 3) the closing prayers and dedications (which we chant after every group practice in the Hay River and Minneapolis KTCs).
Lama Yeshe will give instructions throughout the Intensive practice event, and you can also view his recorded teachings on YouTube:
Medicine Buddha Teachings, part 1
Medicine Buddha Teachings, part 2
Medicine Buddha Teachings, part 3
Medicine Buddha Teachings, part 4
Medicine Buddha Teachings, part 5
The source book that our lama uses for his teachings is Medicine Buddha Teachings by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. This excellent book contains the main practice text and also descriptions of the mudras, or hand gestures, that we use during the pujas.
Our center performs the Medicine Buddha practice at least once a month, as an hour-long group practice as well as a three-hour intensive practice. Group practices are open to everyone, with no registration required.
May all beings benefit!